Seatbelt assembly including seatbelt pad

Abstract

A seatbelt assembly includes a seatbelt webbing and a pad. The pad is attached to the seatbelt webbing. The pad has a generally annular shape that defines a main aperture extending through the pad in a longitudinal direction of the pad. A portion of the seatbelt webbing extends through the main aperture. The pad includes a lattice structure and a cover layer. The lattice structure surrounds the main aperture. The lattice structure is formed of a resilient material and defines a plurality of openings that permit airflow through the lattice structure. The cover layer is disposed about the lattice structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seatbelt assembly comprising:
 a seatbelt webbing; and   a pad attached to the seatbelt webbing, the pad having a generally annular shape that defines a main aperture extending through the pad in a longitudinal direction of the pad, wherein a portion of the seatbelt webbing extends through the main aperture, wherein the pad comprises:
 a lattice structure that surrounds the main aperture, wherein the lattice structure is formed of a resilient material and defines a plurality of openings that permit airflow through the lattice structure; and 
 a cover layer disposed about the lattice structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice structure has a first region that has a first lattice geometry and a second region that has a second lattice geometry, wherein the first lattice geometry is denser than the second lattice geometry. 
     
     
         3 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the seatbelt webbing is disposed between the first and second regions. 
     
     
         4 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first region is located closer to a first end longitudinal end of the pad than the second region. 
     
     
         5 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cover layer defines a plurality of vent apertures that provide fluid communication between the lattice structure and an exterior of the pad, wherein the second region is aligned with the vent apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer defines a plurality of vent apertures that provide fluid communication between the lattice structure and an exterior of the pad. 
     
     
         7 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice structure is a same material as the cover layer, wherein the lattice structure and the cover layer are formed via an additive manufacturing process. 
     
     
         8 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer includes a plurality of flanges that extend in the longitudinal direction, the flanges being attached directly to the seatbelt webbing. 
     
     
         9 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pad further comprises an electronic device and the seatbelt webbing includes at least two conductors, the at least two conductors in electrical communication with the electronic device and configured to provide power to the electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a first wire and a second wire, wherein the first and second wires extend through the plurality of openings defined by the lattice structure to electrically couple the at least two conductors to the electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the pad further includes at least two conductive ink traces, wherein the at least two conductive ink traces are printed on or within the cover layer and electrically couple the at least two conductors to the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device includes an electroluminescent layer disposed on or within the cover layer. 
     
     
         13 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device includes a speaker. 
     
     
         14 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device includes a sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device includes a fan, the fan configured to draw air through the lattice structure. 
     
     
         16 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device includes a resistance heating element. 
     
     
         17 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pad further comprises a resonance chamber, the resonance chamber having a predetermined natural frequency configured to vibrate in response to a predetermined vehicle noise or vibration. 
     
     
         18 . A seatbelt assembly comprising:
 a seatbelt webbing including at least two conductors; and   a pad attached to the seatbelt webbing, the pad having a generally annular shape that defines a main aperture extending through the pad in a longitudinal direction of the pad, wherein a portion of the seatbelt webbing extends through the main aperture, wherein the pad comprises:
 a lattice structure that surrounds the main aperture, wherein the lattice structure is formed of a resilient material and defines a plurality of openings that permit airflow through the lattice structure; 
 a cover layer disposed about the lattice structure, the cover layer defining a plurality of vent apertures that provide fluid communication between the lattice structure and an exterior of the pad; and 
 an electronic device coupled to the at least two conductors to receive power therefrom, the electronic device including at least one of a speaker and an electroluminescent layer disposed on or within the cover layer. 
   
     
     
         19 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the lattice structure has a first region that has a first lattice geometry and a second region that has a second lattice geometry, wherein the first lattice geometry is denser than the second lattice geometry. 
     
     
         20 . The seatbelt assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the pad further includes at least two conductive ink traces, wherein the at least two conductive ink traces are printed on or within the cover layer and electrically couple the at least two conductors to the electronic device.